Group Discussion Guide – Honest to God Sermon Series – Week of February 12

Sermon Discussion Time

When people look at you, what do they see? Are you a glass half full or half empty type of person? Are you joyful? Realistic? Sarcastic?
- If you’re not sure, ask the group how they see you.

Read Revelation 5:11-14

These verses tell us about the universal joy that will be experienced when Jesus returns. As you think about these verses and the images in them, what strikes you about this passage? What does this tell you about Jesus?

Read Philippians 4:4-7

“The Lord is near”. What are some situations in your life where you may need to feel a sense of God’s nearness and presence?

Our culture seems to focus on ideas and events that bring about a wide spread sense of anxiety and worry. One of the ways we can combat this from taking over our thought life is by focusing on God. As a group share truths about God, his nature, his work in the world, his death on the Cross.
- Going forward into this week, how can you incorporate some of these truths into your thought patterns when worry and anxiety creeps in?

Joy is different than happiness because happiness is a result of our circumstances and joy is a deep and lasting state of being. Philippians 4:7 talks about a peace that comes from knowing God and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. What would your life look like with this kind of joy and peace?
- Take time to pray for one another about the desires and struggles expressed. Ask for God’s outpouring of joy that withstands our circumstances and reflects the reality of living in relationship with Him.

Some people may feel that their personalities are not naturally joyful. Some people seem to exude happiness wherever they go. No matter how you are wired, how does it look for you to choose joy in response to who God is?